Asylum Seekers

The Earl of Sandwich: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their response to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees' proposals for a Common European Asylum System.

Baroness Neville-Jones: The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has not brought forward any specific proposals to create a Common European Asylum System. However, the Lisbon treaty does call for such a system to be established and the European Commission has proposed a number of measures that move towards creating it.
	The Government strongly believe in the importance of practical co-operation on asylum policy within the EU. We do not judge that adopting a common EU asylum policy is right for Britain. We believe there are many issues in this area where all EU member states have much to gain by working together. We will be active in promoting effective co-operation and consider participation in legislative proposals on their merits, in consultation with our European partners and relevant EU institutions.

British Citizenship

Lord Avebury: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people, broken down by country of birth, were registered as British citizens through applications made under Section 4C of the British Nationality Act 1981 between 1 January 2003 and 30 June 2010.

Baroness Neville-Jones: The figures for registrations under Section 4C are as follows:
	
		
			 Birth Country 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Jan 10 -Jun 10 Sum: 
			 Australia 300 885 1,040 1,120 715 475 375 205 5,115 
			 South Africa 235 745 490 405 360 330 240 325 3,125 
			 United States of America 160 505 455 380 345 245 230 145 2,460 
			 Canada 75 350 390 480 360 215 165 110 2,145 
			 New Zealand 100 235 200 215 170 135 90 80 1,230 
			 Zimbabwe 70 185 120 90 100 75 40 80 760 
			 Israel 30 115 120 45 45 20 5 10 395 
			 Nigeria 10 30 55 70 50 20 20 10 275 
			 Kenya 60 75 45 30 20 10 10 10 255 
			 India 25 45 35 30 25 5 30 25 220 
			 Germany 10 35 35 30 30 15 15 10 185 
			 Zambia 10 45 30 30 20 20 5 15 185 
			 Jamaica 5 30 35 30 30 20 15 15 180 
			 Pakistan 5 40 30 20 10 10 20 5 145 
			 France 5 25 15 30 30 5 5 5 125 
			 Switzerland 10 45 15 20 15 5 5 † 115 
			 Italy 5 20 20 20 15 10 5 † 95 
			 Iraq 15 20 15 10 10 10 5 - 85 
			 Egypt † 5 5 20 10 10 5 20 85 
			 Rhodesia 10 25 10 10 10 5 † 5 75 
			 Yemen 5 10 20 20 10 5 5 - 70 
			 Spain 5 10 10 10 15 5 5 5 60 
			 Malaysia - 15 5 10 10 5 5 5 55 
			 Trinidad and Tobago † 5 † 15 10 5 5 10 55 
			 Turkey 20 10 5 5 † † 5 5 55 
			 Brazil 10 10 10 5 5 † † † 45 
			 Netherlands † 5 5 10 5 † 5 5 45 
			 Mauritius - 10 5 10 5 5 5 5 45 
			 United Rep of Tanzania 5 15 10 5 † † † 5 45 
			 Ireland † 5 5 5 10 5 10 5 40 
			 Mexico - 15 10 10 5 † † † 40 
			 Venezuela 5 5 5 5 5 † 5 † 40 
			 Argentina † 5 10 10 5 5 † 5 40 
			 Ghana † 5 10 15 10 † † † 40 
			 Colombia 5 10 5 † † 5 - 5 40 
			 Barbados † 10 5 10 5 5 † † 40 
			 Saudi Arabia † 5 15 † 5 - 5 - 35 
			 Iran (Islamic Republic of) † 10 † 5 5 5 5 - 35 
			 Libya (Arab Republic) 10 5 5 5 5 5 - - 35 
			 Uganda † 5 5 10 5 5 † 5 35 
			 Papua New Guinea 5 5 5 5 10 † † † 30 
			 Singapore † 5 5 5 5 5 5 † 30 
			 Unknown 5 10 5 5 † † † - 30 
			 Belgium † 5 † 5 5 5 - 5 25 
			 Japan 5 5 5 † 5 † 5 † 25 
			 Sweden † 5 5 5 † 5 - † 25 
			 Jordan † 5 5 5 5 - † 5 25 
			 Kuwait 5 10 5 † † † - † 25 
			 Malta - 10 5 5 5 - † - 25 
			 Namibia † 5 5 † 5 5 - 5 25 
			 Libya 5 10 - 5 - † - - 20 
			 Malawi - 5 † 5 † 5 † - 20 
			 Greece † † † 5 5 † 5 - 15 
			 Guyana - 5 5 5 † † † - 15 
			 Lebanon † † 5 5 - - - † 15 
			 Peru - 5 † 5 5 - - 5 15 
			 Bahamas † † 5 † - 5 - † 10 
			 Ecuador - 5 † † - † † † 10 
			 Philippines † † † † † 5 † - 10 
			 Antigua and Barbuda - 5 † † - † 5 † 10 
			 Sudan † † 5 5 - - - - 10 
			 United Arab Emirates - † † 5 † - - - 10 
			 United Kingdom - 5 5 † † † - † 10 
			 The Syrian Arab Republic - † 5 † - 5 - † 10 
			 Chile - - † 5 † † - † 10 
			 Poland † † - † 5 - - - 10 
			 Sri Lanka † † † † - † - † 10 
			 Austria † † - - † † † † 10 
			 Fiji † † - 5 † † - - 10 
			 Sierra Leone † - † - † † † - 10 
			 Swaziland - † † † † † † † 10 
			 Thailand - 5 † - † - - † 10 
			 Algeria - † - † - † - † 5 
			 Bahrain - - 5 † † - † - 5 
			 Southern Rhodesia † † † - - - - 5 5 
			 Tunisia † 5 - - † - - - 5 
			 Bangladesh † † - † 5 - - - 5 
			 Botswana - † - 5 - - - † 5 
			 Dominica - † - 5 - † - - 5 
			 Portugal - † † † - † † - 5 
			 St. Lucia - † † - † - - - 5 
			 Denmark - - † † † - † - 5 
			 Dominican Republic † † - † - - † - 5 
			 Grenada - † - - 5 - † - 5 
			 Hong Kong † - † - - † - - 5 
			 Hungary - - - 5 - - - - 5 
			 Indonesia - † † † - † † - 5 
			 Norway - † - † † †  - 5 
			 Panama - - - - - - - 5 5 
			 Uruguay - † 5 - - - - - 5 
			 Aden - - † - - - - † 5 
			 Belize - - - 5 - - - - 5 
			 Bolivia - † - - - - - † 5 
			 Cyprus - - - † - † † - 5 
			 Finland - † - - † - - - 5 
			 Northern Rhodesia - † - † - - - - 5 
			 South Korea (Rep of Korea) - - † † - - † - 5 
			 St Vincent and the Grenadines - † - - † - † - 5 
			 Yugoslavia - - † † - - - - 5 
			 Brunei - † - - - † - - † 
			 Cameroon † † - - - - - - † 
			 China - † † - - - - - † 
			 Congo Democratic Republic - - † - - - - - † 
			 Costa Rica † - - - - - - - † 
			 Guatemala - - † - † - - - † 
			 Honduras - - - - - † † - † 
			 Liberia - - - - † - - - † 
			 Malaya - - † † - - - - † 
			 Nepal - † - † - - - - † 
			 Oman - - † † - - - - † 
			 Paraguay - † - - - † - - † 
			 Puerto Rico † - - - - - - † † 
			 Russian Federation † - † - - - - - † 
			 Seychelles - † - - - - - - † 
			 South West Africa - † - † - - - - † 
			 Taiwan (Republic of China) † - † - - - - - † 
			 Tonga - - - - † - - - † 
			 American Samoa - † - - - - - - † 
			 Andorra - - - † - - - - † 
			 Angola - - † - - - - - † 
			 Bermuda - † - - - - - - † 
			 Cambodia (Kampuchea) - - † - - - - - † 
			 Ceylon - - † - - - - - † 
			 Cote D Ivoire (Ivory Coast) † - - - - - - - † 
			 Cuba - - - † - - - - † 
			 Federal Republic of Yugoslavia - † - - - - - - † 
			 Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland - - - - - - † - † 
			 Guinea - - - - - - - † † 
			 Iceland - - † - - - - - † 
			 Lithuania - - - † - - - - † 
			 Luxembourg - † - - - - - - † 
			 Madagascar - - - - † - - - † 
			 Mauritania - - † - - - - - † 
			 Morocco - † - - - - - - † 
			 Nyasaland - - - - † - - - † 
			 Qatar - † - - - - - - † 
			 Samoa - - - - - - † - † 
			 Senegal - - - - - - - † † 
			 Somalia - - † - - - - - † 
			 Suriname - - † - - - - - † 
			 USSR - † - - - - - - † 
			 Vietnam - - - - - - - † † 
			  1,280 3,800 3,435 3,395 2,580 1,770 1,415 1,175 18,850 
		
	
	NB The statistical database used by UKBA allows for applicants to be considered Zimbabwean, Rhodesian or South Rhodesian, dependent on the documentation held.
	Please note that figures have been rounded to the nearest five. The symbol † denotes a figure of two or less.

Cultural Festivals

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to encourage the participation of ethnic minorities in major cultural festivals and concerts.

Lord Shutt of Greetland: One of the priorities of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport is the creation of opportunities for all people to experience artistic excellence. The department's Diversity Project Board aims to ensure that there is an inclusive approach to cultural policy-making, while Arts Council England (ACE)-one of the department's directly-funded bodies-encourages the participation of ethnic minorities in major regular cultural festivals through Race Equality audits, Race Equality Action Plan, and audience development initiatives such as Maximise.
	ACE regularly funded organisations such as Asian Arts UK, Sampad and the Milap Festival Trust specialise in encouraging diverse artists and attracting diverse audiences. Arts Council England also provides core funding for a range of community-led festivals and carnival work which reaches out to diverse communities, including St Paul's Carnival in Bristol, the Africa Oye Festival in Liverpool, Stockton International Riverside Festival and the range of artists they fund who perform at the Notting Hill carnival.

Debt Management Office

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will mandate the Debt Management Office to rebalance its issuance programme to take advantage of post-war record low redemption yields at the long end of the gilt-edged market and in the index-linked market.

Lord Sassoon: The Debt Management Office's (DMO) financing remit for 2010-11 will be revised if appropriate when the Office for Budget Responsibility produces its next fiscal forecast. While the DMO fully factors into its issuance programme short term developments in market interest rates, it is important that the DMO maintains a clear and consistent approach to its issuance programme based on the annual financing remit set by HM Treasury.

Discrimination

Lord Avebury: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have received the draft report on caste discrimination from the National Institute of Economic and Social Research; whether they will now make an order to make caste a protected characteristic under the Equalities Act 2010; and whether they will hold a meeting with the organisations which were represented at the 4 February meeting with the then Minister.

Baroness Verma: The Government Equalities Office has seen an interim version of the report and expects to receive the final version by the end of October. We are not yet in a position to determine whether the caste power in the Equality Act 2010 will be exercised.
	Once the report, together with the Government's response to it, has been published in due course, we will be happy to consider discussions with organisations interested in the report and its outcome.

Embryology

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Thornton on 27 January (WA 338), what were the conclusions of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority's internal governance review; and whether an externally led inquiry is still considered unnecessary.

Earl Howe: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has advised that the internal review is not yet complete. No further action is currently planned by the HFEA or the Department of Health in relation to this matter.

Embryology

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether incident 01079 at centre 0102 was considered by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) to be closed on 23 March 2009; whether incident 01073 at centre 0102 was initially considered by the HFEA to be closed before 23 March 2009; and what were the conclusions of the HFEA's investigation into a complaint about its handling of these incidents.

Earl Howe: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has advised that during the course of the investigation it was discovered that an e-mail was sent to centre 0102 on 23 March 2009 thanking them for sending documentation and confirming that 'this incident' would be closed on the HFEA's system. This e-mail was inadvertently sent as a reply to an e-mail enclosing a report which related to IN01079. The HFEA has advised that it regards the details of the nature of a complaint and the investigation and its outcome as confidential between itself and the complainant and will not release them without the prior agreement of the complainant.

Embryology

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government why information available on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority's website (http://www.hfea.gov.uk/3411.html) indicates that the number of registered egg donors has been significantly higher than the number of registered sperm donors since 1997; what assessment they have made of this trend in the light of the greater invasiveness in obtaining eggs; and how the underlying factors will be discussed as part of the announced public consultation into donation policies.

Earl Howe: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has advised that the information on its website shows a higher number of registered egg donors than sperm donors since 1997 because more women than men have donated gametes during this period. The HFEA has advised that an assessment of this trend has not been made.
	The HFEA has advised that it is considering the nature and scope of the consultation on donation policies and will reach a decision on the content at the meeting in December.

Embryology

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Darzi of Denham on 18 December 2007 (WA 116-7), what data is held by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) regarding the mortality rate from ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) in the United Kingdom; and whether this matches the situation described by Professor Adam Balen in his report to the HFEA in August 2008.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there are any licensed centres for which the incidence of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome is equal to or greater than that described in 2007 in the journal Human Fertility (volume 10, issue 3, pages 183-187); and which centres were responsible for generating the data described in this paper.

Earl Howe: The prescribing of fertility drugs that can lead to ovarian hyper-stimulation syndrome (OHSS) is not a licensable activity under the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 and is therefore not regulated by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA). The HFEA does not routinely collect information about cases of OHSS occurring in connection with treatment at each HFEA licensed centre, other than where this is reported in the context of an adverse incident report. While the HFEA receives limited data about OHSS it is not possible from these data to calculate the incidence of OHSS for each clinic in relation to the population treated.
	The HFEA has advised that it cannot comment on centres that were responsible for generating the data in the paper referred to in Human Fertility (volume 10, issue 3, pages 183 - 187). The HFEA did not write or contribute data to the paper.

Embryology

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Earl Howe on 19 July (WA 163), what are the scientific, ethical and monetary criteria that the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) must ensure are satisfied before granting a research licence; and why the HFEA does not consider the potential applications of the research licensed in order to ensure that the work in question is necessary or desirable.

Earl Howe: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has advised that it has no further information to add to the Answer given on 19 July 2010 (Official Report, col. WA 163).

Embryology

Lord Willis of Knaresborough: To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the annual budget for the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority for (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09, and (c) 2009-10; and, for each year, how much has been spent on administration.

Earl Howe: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has provided the information set out in the following table.
	
		
			 Year Annual budget 
			 2007-08 Operational budget (including capital) £6.8m + project budget £0.45m = £7.25m total 
			 2008-09 Operational budget (including capital) £7m + project budget £1.5m = £8.5m total 
			 2009-10 Operational budget (including capital) £7.2m (no projects) = £7.2m total 
		
	
	The HFEA has advised that for the purposes of this question, it has been assumed that expenditure on administration comprises the direct costs associated with the finance, human resources, facilities and information technology network support functions and the relevant parts of the chair's and chief executive's offices. For the year 2009-10 that expenditure was about £1.2 million. The expenditure in the two preceding years was similar to that in the most recent year.

Embryology

Lord Willis of Knaresborough: To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the projected savings for the discontinuation of (a) the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, and (b) the Human Tissue Authority.

Earl Howe: The department's review of its arms-length bodies announced in July that the functions of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority and the Human Tissue Authority will be transferred to other bodies by the end of the current Parliament. This includes, for instance, the transfer of functions relating to the regulation of healthcare treatment to a single healthcare regulator, the Care Quality Commission. This should realise savings in a number of ways. It should lead to a rationalisation of support functions including human resources, information technology, legal services and communications, and will provide the opportunity to minimise duplication and reduce the administrative burden on regulated establishments, resulting in savings in the cost of regulation and a reduction in bureaucracy.
	A projected calculation of the savings will be produced as details are developed of how the transfer will be effected.

Embryology

Lord Willis of Knaresborough: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many complaints have been registered by (a) clinicians, (b) research scientists, and (c) the general public, regarding the conduct of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09, and (c) 2009-10.

Earl Howe: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has provided the information in the following table.
	
		
			 Year Source: treatment centres Source: research scientists Source: General public Total complaints registered in each period 
			 2007-08 2 0 9 11 
			 2008-09 1 0 2 3 
			 2009-10 2 0 1 3

Energy: Renewables

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the value of the photovoltaic feed-in tariff to the United Kingdom economy.

Lord Marland: The feed-in tariffs (FITs) scheme for Great Britain was launched in April 2010, and is open to a range of technologies including solar photovoltaics. DECC published an impact assessment in February 2010 setting out projections for uptake levels and scheme costs (for further details, please see: http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cros/consultations/elec_financial/elec_financial.aspx).
	DECC projections illustrate that solar PV uptake is expected to grow over time. Any projections are of course subject to an inherent degree of uncertainty given that this is a demand-led scheme, though the photovoltaic feed-in tariff is generally expected to have a significant positive impact on deployment levels, and thereby also on the UK solar PV market.
	DECC has not carried out any analysis on the expected growth of the PV market in the UK or of the value of expected sales.

Food: Labelling

Lord Dykes: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will discuss improvements to consumer guidance on food and drink labels with representatives of manufacturers and of the retail sector.

Earl Howe: The Government will be discussing with businesses and others what more can be done as part of the public health responsibility deal to improve the food information given to consumers, and to encourage consumers to take note of this information. In addition arrangements for labelling will be strengthened as a consequence of the food labelling legislation currently under negotiation in Europe.

Forced Marriage

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Neville-Jones on 27 September 27 (WA 562), whether they will assess the effect of the increase in the marriage visa age to determine whether the change has increased the length of time British citizens are kept overseas against their will following a forced marriage.

Baroness Neville-Jones: The minimum age at which someone can sponsor a spouse to come to the UK or be sponsored as a spouse was raised from 18 to 21 via a change to the Immigration Rules on 27 November 2008.
	Given the difficulties in obtaining the information because of the nature of forced marriage, we have no plans to assess whether the increase in the marriage visa age has had any impact on the length of time British citizens are kept overseas against their will following a forced marriage.

Health: Dementia

Baroness Cumberlege: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many patients suffering from dementia experience behavioural symptoms.

Earl Howe: This information is not collected by the department.

Health: Dementia

Baroness Cumberlege: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many patients suffering from dementia experience symptoms of aggression or agitation.

Earl Howe: This information is not collected by the department.

Health: Pharmacology

Lord Mawhinney: To ask Her Majesty's Government what guidelines pharmacists are expected to follow on the obtaining, handling and storage of patents' confidential medical information derived prior to the sale of those over-the-counter products where customers are required to consult the pharmacist prior to purchase.

Earl Howe: First, when pharmacists provide NHS Pharmaceutical services, under their terms of service (paragraphs 20 and 21 of Schedule 1 of the NHS (Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations 2005), in cases where a pharmacist has supported a patient's self care, for example in the sale of an over the counter product, the pharmacist, shall, in appropriate cases, keep and maintain a record of any advice given, and of any drugs supplied when the advice was given, and that record shall be in a form that facilitates:
	auditing of the provision of pharmaceutical services by the pharmacist; andfollow-up care for the person to whom or in respect of whom the advice has been given.
	Secondly, in the handling of any patient sensitive information, pharmacists are governed by the Data Protection Act and their professional standards; a number of these standards relate to consent, confidentiality and appropriate record keeping. Furthermore, community pharmacists are now engaged with the NHS Information Governance Toolkit. Compliance with level 2 (expected by 31 March 2011) will demonstrate attainment of National Health Service standards and requirements.

Independent Networks Co-operative Association

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government who monitors the activities of the Content Industries Directorate at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills in respect of monies paid to the chief executive officer, Malcolm Corbett, and the Independent Networks Co-operative Association; on what basis such monitoring is carried out; when; and what was the outcome.

Baroness Wilcox: The grant awarded to the Independent Networks Co-operative Association is subject to the usual financial controls and audit procedures of the department. No specific investigation has been carried out.

Northern Ireland: Human Rights Commission

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether all funding paid to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission has been spent in pursuit of the legal objectives set out for the commission.

Baroness Wilcox: This is a matter for Alston Cybermoor Ltd. The Government have no involvement.

Olympic Games 2012

Lord Ouseley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the success to date with regard to the 2012 Olympic legacy target to increase the number of people playing sport three times a week by 2012.

Lord Shutt of Greetland: The number of adults playing sport three times a week has increased by 720,000 since the Olympic and Paralympic bid was won in 2005.
	Since 2007-08 when the legacy target was set, participation has increased by 200,000.

Olympic Games 2012

Lord Ouseley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the proposal to stage the Olympic marathon away from the streets surrounding the stadium.

Lord Shutt of Greetland: Responsibility for the route of the Olympic and Paralympic marathon events in 2012 rests with London Organising Committee of the Olympics and Paralympic Games (LOCOG). The route has been chosen for operational reasons. It helps keep London moving on busy competition days, minimises disruption to other Games events, and best meets athlete and spectator requirements. The route has been approved by the Olympic Board and the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) and agreed with the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

People Trafficking

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government why they have not opted in to the European Union Directive intended to co-ordinate European efforts to combat human trafficking for sexual purposes.

Baroness Neville-Jones: The Government decided not to opt in to the directive at the outset, but to review the position once the directive has been agreed. We still have the option of applying to opt in at a later stage.
	In reaching this decision, the Government considered whether the directive would make a practical difference to the way the UK fights trafficking and whether it contained operational co-operation measures from which the UK would benefit. It concluded it would not.

People Trafficking

Baroness Thornton: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Neville-Jones on 16 September 2010 (HL2073), why they have not opted in to the draft European Union directive on human trafficking if the United Kingdom already complies with most of the legislation and practice required by the draft directive; and what parts of the draft directive the United Kingdom does not comply with.

Baroness Neville-Jones: The Government decided not to opt in to the directive at the outset, but to review the position once the directive has been agreed. We still have the option of applying to opt in at a later stage.
	In reaching this decision, the Government considered whether the directive would make a practical difference to the way the UK fights trafficking and whether it contained operational co-operation measures from which the UK would benefit.
	The UK already does most of what is required by the directive. We are not currently compliant with the provision in Article 9 that requires wide-ranging extra-territorial jurisdiction. A breakdown of the Government's compliance with the directive is provided in the Explanatory Memorandum submitted to Parliament on 25 May 2010 (reference 8157/10 COM (2010) 95).

People Trafficking

Baroness Thornton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the implications for the United Kingdom's relationship with other European Union member states of the United Kingdom opting out of the draft European Union directive on human trafficking.

Baroness Neville-Jones: The UK remains fully engaged in the negotiations with the European Commission and the EU presidency on the text of the directive. The UK continues to play an active role in helping improve wider EU efforts at combating human trafficking and works constructively with its European partners on issues of mutual interest.
	Police-led operations against human trafficking are not affected by the directive. Combating human trafficking is part of core police business, and decisions on anti-trafficking operations are a matter for the police.

People Trafficking

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government why they have not opted in to the European Union Directive on Human Trafficking; and whether they will continue anti-trafficking operations such as Operation Pentameter.

Baroness Neville-Jones: The Government decided not to opt in to the directive at the outset, but to review the position once the directive has been agreed. We still have the option of applying to opt in at a later stage.
	In reaching this decision, the Government considered whether the directive would make a practical difference to the way the UK fights trafficking and whether it contained operational co-operation measures from which the UK would benefit.
	Police-led operations against human trafficking are not affected by the directive. Combating human trafficking is part of core police business, and decisions on anti-trafficking operations are a matter for the police.

Questions for Written Answer

Lord Jopling: To ask the Leader of the House whether he has raised with Ministers the 18 Questions for Written Answer tabled in July which had not received an answer on 27 September, 15 of which were awaited from the Home Office, when the target time for answering is 10 working days.

Lord Strathclyde: In respect of unanswered Home Office Questions, I have raised the matter with Home Office Ministers and my office have reminded their cross-government counterparts of the importance of departmental accountability to Parliament by answering Questions within the 10 working day target.

Schools: Exchange Programmes

Baroness Coussins: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether immigration rules currently prevent school pupils from non-EU countries taking part in exchange programmes such as the Rotary Youth Exchange with pupils from maintained secondary schools for a full academic year; and, if so, whether they have plans to change the rules.

Baroness Neville-Jones: The child visitor route within the Immigration Rules allows children from non-EU countries aged up to 17 years old to participate in exchange visits of up to six months in duration to state maintained schools in the UK.
	The Government are currently reviewing tier four, the student tier, of the points-based system.

Senior Salaries Review Board

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the cost of the Senior Salaries Review Board in each of the past five financial years.

Baroness Wilcox: The members of the Senior Salaries Review Body (SSRB) receive fees for the days they attend and work for SSRB. They are also reimbursed for the expenses they incur while undertaking SSRB business. The costs of these fees and expenses are covered by the relevant sponsoring departments which are: Cabinet Office, HM Treasury, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Justice, Department of Health and the Northern Ireland Assembly. These costs are set out below:
	2005-06-£58,649.17;
	2006-07-£37,210.73;
	2007-08-£42,064;55;
	2008-09-£79,152.22; and
	2009-10-£73,620.09.

Taxation: Avoidance

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they will take to reduce tax avoidance.

Lord Sassoon: This Government are committed to tackling avoidance and intend to build in sustainable defences against avoidance opportunities when undertaking policy reform. The Government will review areas of the tax system in which repeated changes have been necessary to close loopholes. We are also considering whether there is a case for developing a general anti-avoidance rule for the UK.
	Alongside this, HM Revenue and Customs will continue to use intelligence obtained from the disclosure of tax avoidance schemes regime and other sources to detect avoidance schemes early; and will challenge them robustly.
	The Government have recently announced plans to tackle non-compliance in the tax system by making £900 million available to raise additional revenue from those who undermine the tax system. As part of these plans, funding will be available for placing up to £1 billion per year of tax debt out to private debt collection agencies.

Taxation: Non-domiciled Taxpayers

Lord Dykes: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether all previously non-domiciled British citizens who have recently returned to live in the United Kingdom are now paying all relevant direct taxes.

Lord Sassoon: An individual's liability to UK tax is based on their residence and domicile status rather than their citizenship. Those individuals who are resident and domiciled in the UK are liable to UK tax on their worldwide income and gains. Those who are resident but not domiciled may claim the remittance basis of taxation. Those claiming the remittance basis pay tax on their UK-source income and gains as they arise but are taxed on their non-UK income and gains only if they are brought into the UK.
	There are separate provisions for MPs and Members of the House of Lords by which they are deemed to be resident, ordinarily resident and domiciled in the UK for income tax, capital gains tax and inheritance tax purposes. Therefore, they are liable to tax on all their worldwide income, gains and assets regardless of their actual status.

Visas

Lord Tanlaw: To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the reasons for the delays in issuing entry visas to bone fide business people visiting the United Kingdom from India and China.

Baroness Neville-Jones: The UK Border Agency aims to process 90 per cent of applications for business visit visas within 15 working days, 98 per cent in six weeks and 100 per cent in 12 weeks. The agency's customer service standards, and a guide to recent processing times at each of the agency's visa application centre overseas, are published on its website at www.ukba.homeoffice.gsi.gv.uk/visas.
	Business visit visa applications lodged in India are currently being processed well within the published target time. In August 2010 (the last published information), for example, 1,129 business visit visa applications lodged in the New Delhi visa application centre were concluded, of which 72 per cent were decided in two working days and 98 per cent in 15 working days.
	The position is similar in China, where in August 2010, 866 business visit visa applications lodged in the Beijing visa application centre were concluded, of which 34 per cent were concluded in two working days and 96 per cent in 15 working days.
	Demand for visas in both India and China rises substantially over the summer months, which can lead to longer processing times than at other times of the year, but the UK Border Agency works hard to meet its published customer service standards.
	In addition, fast track programmes exist in both India and China and continue to operate through the summer, providing a faster turn around time for companies that send significant numbers of staff to visit the UK.
	If the noble Lord wishes to share specific concerns in correspondence, a more detailed response can be given.

Visas

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many visa work permits for medical doctors have been issued in each of the past three years; what is the figure for each of the top 20 countries in that period; and which categories of doctors from non-European Union countries are presently eligible for skilled worker or other visas.

Baroness Neville-Jones: The total number of work permits issued to non-EEA nationals for employment as a medical practitioner in 2008 was 1,290. The number issued to each of the top 20 nationalities is shown in the first table attached.
	The total number of certificates of sponsorship assigned to non-EEA nationals for employment as a medical practitioner under tier two of the points-based system in 2009 and 2010 (January-June) was 2,812 and 1,423, respectively.
	The number assigned to each of the top 20 nationalities is shown in the second table attached.
	While the UK Border Agency can provide data on the number of visas issued to non-EEA nationals (1) for work permit employment; and (2) as skilled workers under tier two of the points-based system, it is unable to breakdown the data by the profession of the visa applicant from central records. This information could be obtained only by checking individual records and therefore at a disproportionate cost.
	
		
			 Table 1 
			 Work Permits Issued-2008  
			 Medical Practitioners  
			 Top 20 Nationalities  
			 India 249 
			 South Africa 169 
			 China Peoples Republic of 121 
			 Pakistan 103 
			 Sri Lanka 90 
			 Egypt 73 
			 Australia 59 
			 Malaysia 35 
			 Romania 35 
			 Nigeria 34 
			 Bangladesh 31 
			 Myanmar 29 
			 Sudan 29 
			 Iraq 18 
			 United States of America 18 
			 Bulgaria 16 
			 Ghana 14 
			 Trinidad and Tobago 13 
			 New Zealand 12 
			 Russia 11 
			 Total 1,290 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2 
			 PBS Tier 2-Medical Practitioners: Certificates of Sponsorship Assigned   
			 Top 20 Nationalities   
			  2009 2010 
			 India 769 416 
			 Pakistan 427 254 
			 Sri Lanka 250 138 
			 South Africa 201 53 
			 Egypt 158 86 
			 Nigeria 128 62 
			 Malaysia 107 45 
			 Sudan 85 42 
			 Bangladesh 52 38 
			 Australia 52 25 
			 Burma (Union of Myanmar) 42 22 
			 Iraq 42 20 
			 Syria 39 16 
			 Libya 32 5 
			 Singapore 23 14 
			 Iran 19 12 
			 Jordan 22 9 
			 China 23 7 
			 Kuwait 17 12 
			 Zimbabwe 19 10 
			 Others 305 137 
			 Total 2,812 1,423 
		
	
	The categories of medical doctor are published in the codes of practice for sponsors on the UK Border Agency website. They can be viewed at http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/employersandsponsors/pointsbasedsystem/sectionqcodeofpractice.pdf.
	Postgraduate doctors may also enter the UK to undertake further study via tier 4 of the points-based system.